Mothers and fathers are known to want to do it. Sometimes a friend will offer to do it. I’m talking about people who are willing to take someone’s place to spare that person or keep them from harm or danger. It is a loving thing, not done thoughtlessly, yet sometimes offered spontaneously.
In the story of Joseph who is a type of Christ,
another person also demonstrates the character of Jesus Christ. This time it is
Judah, the older brother. He finds out that the person in charge of the grain
in Egypt (Joseph, but none of the brothers know it at this time) wants to keep
Benjamin, his little brother while they take the grain back to their home. Judah
pleads with the man. Instead of leaving the boy and risk breaking the heart of
their father, he offers himself as a substitute. “Now therefore, please let
your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy
go back with his brothers.” (Genesis 44:33)
This points to Jesus who did that for us.
The ‘enemy’ of death put its claim on us, and sin gave him had good reason, but
the Lord offered to take our place. Jesus died for sinners so that we might
return to our Father and live forever. Praise His amazing willingness to be our
substitute.
The next reading reminded me of an artist
who taught me a great deal about plein air painting, that is, painting outdoors
where the light is constantly changing and sometimes the weather raises havoc
with your work. The verse says, “He who observes the wind will not sow, and
he who regards the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
My art teacher said, “If I let the
weather keep me in, soon I will not go out at all.” He painted summer and
winter, wind or rain, and when it was -40, he painted in his car until the
paint became too stiff to use. His name was Paul Braid, and although he has
died, his work is still available because he never let anything stop him from
doing what he did best.
The Lord put this same wisdom in His Word
and I need to hear it over and over. When confronted with anything I don’t want
to do, it is easy to find an excuse to keep me from doing it. My father called
anyone with excuses a “can’t-man” and for him, that was the worst kind of
worker. God often uses His Word, Paul’s reasoning, and my dad’s value system to
keep me from giving in to procrastination.
The third reading today gave two promises
from God. The first is one He made to Israel as they struggled to be the
children of God and failed so many times. How precious are these words: “For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those
days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on
their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they
shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know
the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins
no more.” (Hebrews 8:10–12)
Instead of struggling to remember and do
the will of God, God Himself comes into the hearts of those who will believe in
Him and welcome Him into their lives. He brings with Him new life, rebirth, a
new creation. I am new because Jesus lives in me. When He is joyful, I feel His
joy. When He grieves, I feel His sorrow. When He says ‘do this’ I know what He wants.
The second promise is that Jesus will
return. The first time He came to die for my sin. The second time will be
different: “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will
appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly
waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
Most of the times that I yearn for the
second coming are times of pain and struggle, but there are days that I think
of Jesus and just want to be with Him, to enjoy His smile, to feel His touch,
and to celebrate the fact of no more sin, ever. Because He said He would come, I
know it is true and eagerly look forward to that day.
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